Mountain Biking - Rear Wheel Spacing

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MattC
10-01-04, 08:03 AM
I have an old 80's Marin Eldridge I have been playing with lately and it is a 7 speed. I had an old wheel that is 8 speed laying around and decided to see if the rear spacing was the same and it fit. Does this mean I could upgrade the bike to 9 speed because I am thiking I could get a spare set of wheels for my good bike and just use them on the old on for commuting and such. I figure it wont cost much for the other pieces I would need if I just went with deore replacement parts.

Thanks
Matt

Astra
10-01-04, 09:42 AM
Matt, dunno about yours but I have a 1993 mountain bike that was 7 speed from the get-go. A couple of years ago, I ordered a whole new 9-speed drive train and wheels without dropout spacing crossing my mind... Anyhow, it arrived and the rear wheel fit in perfectly, exactly like the 7-speed wheel did :).

Could you borrow a 9-speed wheel from a friend or a shop?
GreenFix
10-01-04, 10:23 AM
If you can measure, the rear spacing has to be 135mm or close to it with a steel frame.

I converted an early 90s steel frame to 9 speed, and did not have to change the frame spacing at all.

roadfix
10-01-04, 10:37 AM
Does this mean I could upgrade the bike to 9 speed?

Yes, fit is not a problem. But, if you have 7-speed index shifting, it'll only shift 7 of your 8 speed cassette. The 9 speed cassette will need 9-speed shifters.